Quite often it can be triggered by dehydration. Drink lots of water. You might have to get up to go to the bathroom but it's better than the cramps. Some medication can make it worse. Certain diabetes medication for example can contribute to dehydration which in turn causes the possibility of legg cramps and restless leggs. Cutting back on salt is worth trying.
Discuss this with your doctor so they can determine if any of your meds could be a problem.
There's an over the counter pill by Hyland for legg cramps you can get it at CVS, Walmart, Walgreens etc, very mild.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hylands

Deeby says she can't have quinine. The Hylands site says that a form of quinine is its active ingredient.

Deeby, you have a number of things going on in your health picture. Don't you think it best to seek advice from your doctor and not from an internet forum?

Amateur doctoring can be dangerous.

I'll call about it. I just like to get home remedies and tips too. Edited to add: The only new med is Allopurinol for gout. I had a flare up that lasted about 10 days and it was AGONY. Like a broken foot set on fire and a horse standing on it all at the same time. I drink diet Cokes all day long but it sounds like more water and less colas. I know caffeine dehydrates. I Googled and there's no mention of Allo causing leg cramps. I'd choose the gout over these leg cramps any day. Leg cramps are the breaking point for me. I remember screaming and screaming during a miscarriage-leg cramps are even worse.

This post was edited by Deeby on Wed, Sep 3, 14 at 3:05

I am 73 and have diabetes for 61 years,, Eating a banana a day will help. But I got sick of eating bananas every day. I thought I'd try coconut water. I don't think that tasts good but I mix it with Wal-Mart Clear Mandrin Orange diet sparkling water It is very refreshing and I drink about 2 glasses during the day and I have no more leg cramps.

Look up Wal-Mart Clear Mandarine Orange sparkling water to see the ingredients which are 0 caffeine, 0 everything except Aspertain. and you will see the ingredients. Tllhe onlly thing is it has Aspertain lbut at my age I don't care.

A while back folks here were putting a bar of soap at the foot of their bed and swore they had no more leg cramps. My BIL swears by that, too. I'm afraid If I did that I'd kick it off onto the floor and then step on it as I jumped out of bed with a cramp and fall and really hurt my self. LOL

I only get those when I drink too much alcohol (not in long awhile, thank goodness!), and so, dehydration might be a factor. Dehydration is what gives people hangovers, I know, so maybe its loss of water?

Couldn't hurt to up water intake. Any doctor would agree to that. At least until you could get seen.

Deeby, I can't help but feel that your daily diet of excess salt (hugely excess, according to you), and excess sugar have a lot to do with your ailments.

Daily diet has a huge impact on our health and just going by what you've told us over a long period of time....you might be adding to your health issues by what you eat every day.

Certainly you must see your doctor. Some of your health issues put you at high risk for leg cramps, but it could be other contributing health factors, too.

Do you think that your gout is triggered by certain foods that you eat? Are your kidneys healthy?

I'm so sorry that you are going through all of this. As hard as you work, the last thing you need is something that prevents you from getting a good night's rest. Make an appointment with your doctor, deeby.

I've heard sleeping with a bar of soap in the bed does the trick. Or get some quinine tables for leg cramps.

Drink more. I was having that problem until I was told it was dehydration. If you can't stand to drink more water or low cal drinks, eat some watermelon. That helps me.

Seeing bar of soap made me go "HUH?!" and then I looked around. Some rubbed it inside of socks they wore. One put a bar in their bed. Another said a sock with soap flakes placed on their ache immediately cured it. Ok. Others said it's cheap and easy, so why not? and that, while studies haven't been done, there are those who have found relief. Cool.

I can relate. I don't have any of the physical ailments you have but I do have my share of leg cramps. Mine came on when Menopause hit. I can generally tell when it might be a bad night. My legs ache and I can't say it's because I've been to innactive or have been over active. I do the potassium/magnesium but in addition to that if I feel achy before bed I eat a pickle. Dill. It seems to help as does good apple cider before bed.

Soap in the bed under the bottom sheet worked very well for my husband. Doesn't have to be a large bar either. We use the small bars from hotel stays.

Through my own experience...I have discovered that this night time leg cramp issue is almost always caused by dehydration. It's the same for exercise or day time leg cramping. Drink more fluids...most particularly good old fashioned water. A glass before bedtime may cause you to get up during the night but your leg cramps should stop within a night or so...and so should the trips to the bathroom. It works for me and the price of the cure is certainly reasonable. :-)

Anne

so sorry to hear of your leg cramping Deeby, I have also had those and it does help to drink lots of water during the day...but, please check it out with the dr.... good luck with a restful sleep....

This subject has come up many times over the years and I always say the same although I have never heard anyone say that they gave it a try. I take 800 -1000. Units of Vitamin E. Daily. My leg cramps started in high school with sports. At night laying on the floor with restless leg syndrome and just shaking my legs up and down to make the pains go away. It was worse in the night when the "Charlie horses" came to visit sometimes several times. The E if I don't take it will let me know and by the second day the familiar restlessness starts enough to send me straight to the medicine cabinet.

First and foremost, have you had your potassium levels checked? It can be very dangerous (heart) if you are too far off one way or another--my uncle had his heart stop on the tennis court because of this, but luckily his teammate was a doctor and re-started it.

My mother has had nighttime cramps in her legs for years and takes a little swallow of yellow mustard. Yep. Works almost always, right away. Same principal as the dill pickle, I would imagine.

That said, I've had chronic cramp at the base of my toes and haven't tried the mustard because I have such a touchy stomach. Do give the mustard a try, after you check out your potassium levels. :)

You should have a complete blood history done, including Vit D, calcium, potassium, etc from your Dr. You mentioned drinking an excess of diet drinks--I would stop all caffeinated/diet drinks. I did and it made a big change. Leg cramps can be caused from many things--even shoes etc. Over exercising, also add Smart Water to your diet, but not too much. It is similar to Gatorade, but less Calories. Check with your Dr. first.
Check to see if your insurance will pay for a dietician, talk to her/him and then evaluate what they suggest, and use common sense on your diet. Always check with your Dr. first, because of your meds, or ask the pharmacist.
My legs were better when I switched to a sleep number bed
Marie

Since she can't have quinine, the Hyland pill suggestion is irrevelant, but I just wanted to say they never helped me with leg cramps.

If I walk around barefoot, or wear flimsy, non-supportive flats or high heels, I'll have leg cramps that night.

I am at the low end of 'adequate' on Vit. D, so I take 2000 mg every morning. (I can even tell the difference in the way I feel.)

I'm still *trying* to drink more water, now that I realize we just don't recognize thirst as well in our senior years. I also think I start to reach for something to eat when what my body wants is water, not food.

Calf Cramp Cure From a Certified Diabetes Educator

this is from a diabetes educator it might help you and definitely can not hurt to do a little stretch.

I sort of hate to write this because of all the other "home remedies" posted above, but dill pickles or dill pickle juice does the trick....I've used this method for a long time. Recently our college basketball team played in Hawaii and one of the players (not being used to the hot weather) developed leg cramps...the solution....pickle juice. It works, I tell you..it really works.

I hate bananas. I take 2 potassium pills everyday. My DS tole me it would help. I also have had a bar of soap under my mattress for years. Nobody can figure out why that works but it does. Sometimes I can feel a cramp start but then it lets go right away. DH who has Type 2 diabetes used to have a lot of cramps too but not anymore. My brother who has a nerve disorder has them really bad. His doctor at Mayo Clinic told him to drink mineral water and now he never has them either.

I've had more leg and foot cramps since menopause, but I have come to realize that there's a very clear correlation between ingesting too much salt and cramps. Lots of water usually helps.

I continue to be amazed--and skeptical--of the soap "cure." How can putting a bar of soap in bed with you stop a physical issue like a cramp? But a lot of people swear by it. Just trying to understand if this is a pure placebo effect or has any basis in science. . .thoughts?

Many won't agree with me, but I think it's a placebo effect with the bar of soap.

DH was suffering with leg cramps, so unbeknownst to him, I put the bar of soap under the sheet at the foot of the bed. It didn't do a thing for his cramps.

But, hey, if it works for you, go for it. It certainly can't hurt.

I've always thought that placebo effects for things like the soap are still beneficial. Even if it's all in your mind, it's still a relief and that's what matters.

Here's a discussion of the bar-of-soap phenomenon, and what science might possibly be behind it.

The People's Pharmacy

Deeby, with all your ailments, have your doctors ever talked to you about your lifestyle--in particular, what you eat? It always amazes me how little attention the medical community in general pays to this most basic of health factors.

I have a bar of Ivory in foot of the bed under the sheets. It works for me. Good luck with your solution, leg cramps aren't ant fun.

Thanks to all of you for taking the time to help. I haven't had any cramps since I first posted ! I can drink more water, keep soap under the sheet and stay on salt substitute. Thanks to everyone !